Chapter 8: Children’s friend vs. jejeja

“So, you’ve been in another world for the past 10 years? And as a hero?”

“That’s what I said.”

“And not only did you defeat the Demon King and return, but you also gained a skill to summon companions?”

“That’s right.”

Cha Seorin seemed half in doubt about my words.

Soon, she nodded and assented.

“Alright, well. Since the world has become like this, there’s nothing unbelievable about it. I’ll take your word for it.”

“It’s not ‘taking my word for it,’ it’s real…”

It’s truly unfair, it’s real.

As I thought that and looked at Cha Seorin’s face, a sudden thought came to mind.

‘This kid, she’s really grown up.’

When was the last time I saw her?

It was probably even before her high school entrance ceremony.

Back then, she still looked quite childish.

Now, her mature female face and figure were particularly noticeable.

“Then, you didn’t intentionally miss my entrance ceremony, right?”

“That’s right. I was sent to that world the day before your entrance ceremony…”

Come to think of it, before I was summoned to that other world.

I had indeed planned to go to Cha Seorin’s entrance ceremony.

It vaguely came back to me.

At my words that I hadn’t intentionally skipped it, Cha Seorin seemed inwardly relieved.

“You’ve grown so much since I last saw you, haven’t you? You’re practically an adult now.”

Because it had been 10 years since we last met, there was a slightly awkward atmosphere.

I threw out a joke to lighten the mood, but.

“…You show up after 10 years… and that’s all you have to say?”

“Huh?”

Cha Seorin made a strange face and spoke in a voice filled with deep and complex emotions.

“Oppa, didn’t you miss me? You said you were forcibly taken away. So, you didn’t think of me all this time?”

“Ah… of course I did. That’s why I thought about looking for you after I returned.”

In truth, I hadn’t thought much about it.

I thought our connection had been severed a long time ago.

I figured Cha Seorin would only remember me as the older brother from her childhood memories.

“I… I really…! *Sob*… I’ve been searching for you, Oppa, for 10 years!!!”

It seemed that wasn’t the case.

It seemed she had accumulated a lot of resentment, as she screamed at the top of her lungs, making everyone in the agency stare.

“Waaaaah–!! Do you know! How much!! I worried?! *Hoo-hoo*!! Waaaaah!!”

****

I took the even more passionately wailing Cha Seorin outside.

Fortunately, as time passed, Cha Seorin gradually regained her composure.

It seemed we needed to talk in a quiet place, so we moved to Cha Seorin’s house for now.

“This is your house?”

“…Well, even if I look like this, I’m an A-rank Awakened.”

The house Cha Seorin led me to was a luxury apartment by the Han River.

Moreover, it was a large home, over 80 pyeong.

“Wow, I’ve lived this long and never thought I’d visit a place like this.”

“I lived quite diligently while Oppa was gone.”

And it was a royal floor unit.

Not only the Han River, but the massive cityscape of Seoul came into view at a glance.

The bustling city view, which I hadn’t even seen in the other world, filled my mind with the realization, ‘I’ve truly returned to the present world.’

“How is it? The view is amazing, right?”

“It is. You’ve grown so much since I last saw you, Cha Seorin.”

At my casual compliment,

I saw Cha Seorin’s expression redden.

Judging by her reaction, it seemed she really had been searching for me for the past 10 years.

‘Were we really that close…?’

Of course, we were close.

But were we close enough for her to search for me for a whole decade?

It was vague.

To me, she was just a well-behaved and popular younger sister.

“Hehe..! Of course I’ve grown up.”

“When you were little, I had a hard time always cleaning up after your messes.”

“Messes? What messes…! I was so well-behaved back then.”

“Were you…? My memory is a bit…”

“Hmph! And now I don’t need Oppa’s help anymore, you know?”

Even with just such trivial conversation,

I could feel Cha Seorin was utterly thrilled.

“That’s a bit of a shame, though.”

“…Huh?”

“Back then, your childhood self, whimpering and crying for help, was cute. Tsk.”

At first, it was a bit awkward.

But after exchanging a few words, the atmosphere from when I used to deal with Cha Seorin as a child naturally formed.

Riding that atmosphere, I playfully tossed out a teasing remark, but.

“…What are you saying? So you’re saying I’m not cute now?”

“No, hmm. That’s not what I meant.”

It seemed the atmosphere from back then wasn’t fully being revived.

For some reason, it felt a bit awkward.

Even while talking to me, Cha Seorin couldn’t meet my gaze directly.

Earlier, only her face had turned red.

Now, even her lightly exposed fair neck and shoulders were turning red.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

Even for me, who has no experience with women,

I could tell that Cha Seorin’s reaction was not the kind of reaction a normal girl would have in front of an ordinary guy she was just getting reacquainted with.

After exchanging enough old stories, I changed the subject.

“By the way, do you live alone in such a big house?”

“Yes, I do. What about Oppa?”

“I’m just living in a small studio apartment.”

Hearing that, Cha Seorin subtly curled the corner of her lips and narrowed her eyes.

“Then… do you want to live together at my place?”

“….?”

“There’s nothing strange to think about, right? We lived together for years.”

We did live together.

Since we’re both from the same orphanage.

But that and this are a bit different, aren’t they?

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Hmph, fine if you don’t want to.”

Cha Seorin showed a slightly pouting expression, perhaps intentionally.

Then, as if embarrassed herself, she quickly changed the subject.

“So, what’s your rank, Oppa?”

“Me? Um… uh..”

A rank…

I couldn’t bring myself to say “F-rank.”

“Why are you hesitating so much? Is it at least E-rank?”

“No… F…”

“Eh?”

Hearing my rank, Cha Seorin couldn’t hold back the laughter bubbling up and burst out.

“Pfft…! Oh, sorry, F-rank is new to me. I’ve only seen it online. This is the first time I’ve actually seen it.”

She tried to cover her mouth with her hand, as if to somehow gather her burst of laughter.

But Cha Seorin’s laughter had already pierced my heart like a dagger.

“…Don’t laugh. Still, I have a skill to summon companions from that world, so it doesn’t matter, right? Whatever.”

“Oh, is that companion useful? Are they stronger than me?”

Cha Seorin asked me, her eyes sparkling.

It seemed she was trying to assert her presence to me.

“Well, I wonder.”

For now, Elysia is an Awakened who was judged S-rank even in the current world.

It seems the ranking here is determined by the amount of mana an individual possesses.

If I can summon other companions someday.

I’d be able to start with at least S-rank.

“She’s probably stronger than you.”

Objectively, there’s no scenario where Cha Seorin, who is still A-rank, could defeat Elysia.

I stroked my chin, thinking that, and spoke.

As soon as Cha Seorin heard my words, her expression stiffened.

“What did you say? Stronger than me? Is that what you mean?”

Cha Seorin instantly created a chilling atmosphere.

Then, she made mana surge throughout her body.

“Then, go ahead and summon her.”

“Now? What for?”

“Let’s just see their skill. Let’s have a go and see who’s stronger.”

She wasn’t this belligerent originally.

It seems living as an Awakened for the past 10 years has been quite tough for her.

Cha Seorin had become a fiercer woman than in my memories.

****

“Alright, I’ll summon her.”

If Cha Seorin is going this far, I can’t help it.

Inwardly, I also had a slight desire to watch a skill battle between Elysia and Cha Seorin.

I focused my mana to cast the ‘Dimensional Summon’ skill.

A cluster of light appeared, and then the familiar blonde knight revealed herself.

“Master, I’ve been waiting.”

Elysia greeted me with her usual bright expression, but then paused for a moment when she spotted Cha Seorin.

“Master, who is this person…?”

“She’s an acquaintance of mine. Her name is Cha Seorin.”

Cha Seorin seemed quite displeased with my introduction, and retorted with a sullen expression.

“Acquaintance? That sounds so stiff. I’m a bit hurt.”

“Then what should I say…?”

“I’m Oppa’s one and only ‘childhood friend,’ aren’t I?”

For a childhood friend, it feels like I was always busy looking after her.

“That’s a bit…”

Cha Seorin carefully scrutinized Elysia.

Judging by Elysia’s visible appearance as a woman, Cha Seorin seemed to think she had the upper hand.

“Well, she does look strong. You two were master and disciple?”

“That is correct.”

Elysia answered that way and then subtly glanced at me.

And then she showed a strange smile.

Cha Seorin was not someone who would fail to notice that.

“You two seem to have a rather special relationship, don’t you?”

“You could say that. I was Master’s one and only beloved disciple.”

“Beloved disciple, huh…”

Elysia deliberately added the character ‘ae (愛)’ to emphasize her relationship with me.

The atmosphere of the conversation was gradually becoming strange.

I realized that a strange dynamic was flowing in Elysia’s demeanor towards me.

I could also see a dissatisfied expression slowly appearing on Cha Seorin’s face.

‘Something seems to be going strangely.’

Cha Seorin widened her eyes and continued speaking.

“So, you’re the one who received the S-rank this time… is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Elysia replied calmly.

“However, I don’t believe rank is everything.”

“Oh ho…”

The corner of Cha Seorin’s mouth slightly curled upwards.

“That’s right. You’re correct.”

She muttered that as if to herself, then immediately pulled out her magic staff.

“Then, how about we have a light spar? That’s fine, isn’t it?”

Cha Seorin’s challenge for a spar.

Elysia flinched and cast a glance at me, and I gave her a sign to just humor her.

“Very well. It’s been a long time since I’ve sparred with a mage.”

In response to Cha Seorin, Elysia also drew her sword with one hand.

The two exchanged glances, pointing their staff and sword at each other.

And then, a slight silence.

Just as that silence was about to become awkward.

They both began to move.

.

.

.

And, naturally.

The duel ended with Elysia’s victory.